The town of Longboat Key is helping residents prepare for flooding this hurricane season with sand bag distributions. Public Works officials held the first distribution on July 3 at Broadway Beach Access, near Whitney Beach. Residents will also be able to pick up bags from 8-11 a.m. on Aug. 7 and Sept. 4. Anyone who is a resident, local business owner or property owner can collect bags, but they must present proof of residency. Participants can collect a maximum of 10 sandbags, though they can bring additional empty bags to fill if needed. For tips on preparing for hurricane season, visit LongboatKey.org.
Save Our Seabirds internships available
Save Our Seabirds invites those interested in interning this fall to apply online before midnight on July 12. The fall internships run from Sept. 1 to Nov. 8, and both fulltime and part-time options are available.
Applicants must submit a résumé, brief statement of interest and one reference with a name and contact information, all in PDF form. Those interested can submit questions and application materials to Internships@SaveOurSeabirds.org. For further details on qualifications and internship requirements, visit SaveOurSeabirds.org/Internships.
Flood-prone road funds a bit dry
Carlin Gillen
Dana Kampa
Oliver Sheckler, Karson Sheckler, Haydn Rozeboom and Heather Rozeboom enjoy a final visit to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium on July 6. Oliver, age 6, likes hammerhead sharks, while Haydn, also age 6, prefers dolphins.
WEEK OF JULY 10, 2025
BY THE NUMBERS
LESS THAN 1%
Percentage of the 23,000 properties reviewed by AAA Travel awarded a fivediamond rating PAGE 6 CALENDAR
n Let’s Talk Longboat —
3 p.m., Tuesday, July 15 at Bayfront Park.
n Learn Life-Saving Measures — 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 16 at Fire Rescue Station 91 at 5490 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Register at LBoggs@ LongboatKey.org or 941-316-1944.
“I see what we’ve done here, and I think it’s amazing,”
Melanie Dale, president of the Longboat Key Garden Club on improvements to Bicentennial Park Read more on page 14
LBK space measures up
Florida is among the top 10 states where $1 million buys the least amount of real estate, according to a study from a high-end cabinetmaker.
Luxury properties in Florida
cost $1,360 per square foot, the study from Highland Cabinetry says, meaning $1 million will purchase about 753 square feet of luxury housing.
That figure falls into the range of Longboat Key pricing, but just barely.
According to recent figures from the Real Estate Association
of Sarasota-Manatee, the median price of a home or condo in Longboat Key is $1,042,000.
Listed on Longboat Key for sale currently are nine residential properties that fall within $10,000 of that $1 million mark, ranging in square footage from 716 to 2,135. While Florida ranks No. 10 among states where $1 million buys the least amount of real estate, it does offer significantly more square footage for that price point than some other states. In Hawaii, which topped the
list, $1 million will purchase 221 square feet. In New York, coming in at No. 2, that will buy 271 square feet.
“With Florida’s continued population growth and recent migration patterns, we’re seeing sustained demand in both standard and luxury segments,” a Highland Cabinetry spokesperson says.
“Recent data shows Florida led the nation in population growth in 2023, adding more than 1,000 residents daily, directly impacting real estate values.”
Parking off limits during GMD seeding
The town is asking people to avoid parking on the Gulf right of way as Florida Department of Transportation begins hydroseeding the shoulder of the road.
The project is expected to bring grass back to the roadway following the 2024 hurricane season during which sand washed ashore had to be cleared from the pavement and piled for eventual removal.
Hydroseeding is a mixture of grass seed, water and green mulch that is applied in a slurry to promote rapid turf growth.
This process will be followed by workers spreading hay and frequent watering.
Electronic signs will keep motorists up to date on the project. For information, call 941-316-1988.
County hires first stormwater chief
A week after the Sarasota County Commission created the Stormwater Department, the county has selected its first leader.
On July 7, the county announced Ben Quartermaine, who previously worked in the county’s stormwater operations when it was part of the Public Works Department, is expected to assume the role on Aug. 11. A native of Sarasota, he has nearly 30 years of experience in civil design and stormwater infrastructure throughout Florida and holds a bachelor of science in Civil Engineering from the University of Central Florida.
A lifelong Floridian, he’s led sustainable watershed management projects and renewable energy initiatives while working as a senior project manager at engineering, architecture and environmental consulting firm Stantec.
The Stormwater Department is separate from Public Works by a vote of the County Commission on July 1.
In his new role, Quartermaine will develop and implement stormwater and flood mitigation strategies, lead infrastructure planning, maintenance and inter-agency collaboration.
Waving farewell
Visitors get one last day at Mote’s aquarium ahead of move.
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Heather Rozeboom remembers accompanying her father when Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium would come calling late at night, seeking volunteer assistance with the dolphins in its care.
“We would race out here together, and the most memorable time was when we stood in the tank the entire night to hold it up to breathe, because it could no longer stay afloat on its own,” she said.
She was among those who paid a visit to the City Island facility on July 6, the last day it was open to the public before experts turn their full attention to preparing inhabitants for a smooth, safe transition to the new facility near I-75.
“We had to get here for the last day,” she said. “We’ve been coming here since we were little kids.”
Rozeboom, who still lives in Sarasota, said the new facility may not hold all the same memories, but she is looking forward to making new ones.
“It will be great in its own way, I’m sure,” she added.
Mote Aquarium’s final weeks of being open to the public on City Island brought out good-sized crowds, topping out above 1,500 on the busiest days, volunteers estimated. Over the Fourth of July weekend, visitors took in a final display of keepers feeding the river otters, picked up mementos from the gift shop and chatted excitedly about the anticipated opening of Mote Science Education Aquarium.
Officials are still working to set a date for the official opening of the much larger building near University Town Center. Vice President
THROUGH THE YEARS
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium timeline of major events:
1955 Cape Haze Marine Laboratory opens in Placida (two-room building and a shark pen)
1960 Cape Haze Marine Laboratory moves to southern tip of Siesta Key with new laboratory building, docks and shark pens
1967 Additional laboratories added to Siesta site — name changed to Mote Marine Laboratory, Navy shark tanks
added
1978 Mote Marine Laboratory moves to City Island (Ken
Kevin Cooper said in a press release announcing the closure and timelines for the move depend upon calibrating life support and safely transferring the animals to their new homes.
The original marine facility that would one day become Mote Marine opened under the name Cape Haze Marine Laboratory in 1955 in Placida. Five years later, in would begin operating in the Siesta Key area for 18 years before officials launched the City Island laboratory in 1978. This center underwent name changes and adaptations over time, catering to the sharks, turtles and marine mammals that call Sarasota Bay home. Seeing a need for additional space to continue its mission of rescuing animals and educating the public, Mote made plans to open a new aquarium between UTC Mall and Nathan Benderson Park.
Community members have shared their earnest anticipation for the new facility, which experts predict will welcome upward of 700,000 aquariumgoers in its first year.
Coming from Fort Myers, Alex Marino and Sam Walch paid a visit on Sunday. Marino said he was glad to fit in a visit before the closing, especially considering he greatly appreciated participating in Mote’s summer camps and other programs.
“I’m looking forward to the new facility, but I’m still really glad I got to go here,” he said.
Walch said she appreciates all the extra space the animals will have to enjoy at Mote SEA.
The science facility will remain, but the closed-door center will focus on research and rehabilitation efforts.
Visitors weren’t the only ones reminiscing on the last day. Alexandra Goldring has accumulated nine years of experience with Mote between her initial internship and volunteer staffing.
She remembers working closely with one particular rescue animal — a turtle named Sea Salt. Goldring said she helped with this particular turtle all the way from intake to its successful release with a satellite tag.
Thompson Park), with new laboratory building with one of four wings completed, filter system, pens and dock
1980 Mote Marine Science Center opens, later named Mote Marine Aquarium
1988 Shark tank added to Mote Marine Aquarium, later named George Jameson Aquarium
1992 Rivers, Bays and Estuaries wing in aquarium completed, Mote Mobile exhibit acquired
1996 Roy and Susan Palmer
Sea Turtle Center opens 1999 Lab Connector building opens with expanded aquarium exhibits, Gilbert-Mahadevan Sea Cinema opens 2004 Keating Marine Educa-
“I got to be part of the team holding him and releasing him into the ocean,” she said. “I was really appreciative.”
Goldring said she’s enjoyed working with staff members so dedicated to animal welfare, and she is eager to see how their ability to treat cold stunning, red tide side effects, hook injuries and more will expand with their focus on animal rehab.
St. Armands Key resident Carolyn Michel actually visited twice in the final week. First, she took visiting family members to see it all one last time. But on Sunday, she just came for herself, waving farewell to the eel that has greeted many viewers.
“I’m going to be sad to see it move so far east from me,” she said. “I loved having it here by the water. It’s
tion Center opens, Immersion Cinema opens 2007 Shark Tracker and Shark Zone exhibits open, Deep Sea Diner opens
2011 Mote’s 2020 Vision and Strategic Plan wins approval by the board of directors to find a new and larger aquarium facility
2014 In September, Mote sets sights on building new aquarium along the bayfront near the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. One month later, the Sarasota City Commission votes against reserving land at the site
2018 Mote announces plans to build new aquarium on land near Nathan Benderson Park
2019 The Sarasota County
Commission approves an agreement for a Science Education Aquarium project between Sarasota County and Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
2020 Ground broken on the 110,000-square-foot Mote Science Education Aquarium with sights set on opening in fall of 2024
2024 Mote’s City Island location closes for two months because of Hurricanes Helene and Milton; final construction is delayed on Benderson site JULY 6, 2025 City Island aquarium closes to public in preparation to open Science Education Aquarium
5-year-old Dalphia Morgan and Stetson Buel, 16 months, check out the sub-tank tunnels on the last public day at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium on July 6.
“I loved having it here by the water ... I understand why they’re moving and why they need to, but we’ll certainly miss having the displays here.”
— Carolyn Michel, St. Armands Key resident
a great location. I understand why they’re moving and why they need to, but we’ll certainly miss having the displays here.”
SAVE OUR SEABIRDS REMAINS OPEN
Save Our Seabirds, a longtime neighboring rescue facility, reassures visitors that it plans to remain open for the foreseeable future.
The two avian and aquatic centers on City Island are separately run, but visitors have long enjoyed stopping into both for a day trip. Save Our Seabirds is free to enter, though it welcomes donations to support its mission of rehabilitating sick and injured birds.
SOS Executive Director Brian Walton said visitors still have plenty to look forward to with a visit to the area, especially with the investments staff are making to improve and expand the facilities.
“We love our Mote neighbors, and we are going to miss them as much as anyone,” he said.
He said leaders are finalizing master plans for updates to the entire campus by the end of the summer.
“Guests should find something new each time they visit for the foreseeable future,” he continued.
“We are grateful to our local community for their faithful support of our mission over the years, and we look forward to rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing our local wild birds for many decades to come.”
The Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium as it was in 1978.
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium staffer Bette Boysen shares a display of the many mollusks that call Sarasota’s waters home.
The City Island arm of Mote Marine is expected to remain functional, focusing on research and rehabilitation, but closed to the public.
Stella and Fynn are 1.5-year-old otters living at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, and they enjoyed a fishy treat in front of guests on the last public day July 6.
Photos by Dana Kampa
Road-raising timeline slows down
Town finds costs estimates make hopes for a 2-year span hard to finance.
With the thought of fasttracked roadway raising in three flood-prone neighborhoods now in the rearview mirror, the town is finding a slightly slower lane is the more-likely path forward.
Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman said in late June that early financial estimates of the resiliency work planned in Sleepy Lagoon, Buttonwood Estates, Longbeach Village and elsewhere are proving low.
So, what was originally envisioned as a potential two-year timeline might extend to five unless new sources of funding or lower-cost alternatives can be found. For its part, the town in its current budget proposal is setting aside upward of $6.4 million through 2030 to pay matching portions of anticipated grants. Not all of that money is in hand, though, but there’s still time, Brownman said, especially for the furthest-flung projections.
“We get a grant, we owe 25%, the numbers you see in fiscal years ’27 through ’30 are the 25% we owe,” Brownman said, adding grants for 2030 have yet to be awarded because they are larger, and typically the smaller amounts get awarded sooner.
Two of those projects in 2030 are Penfield Street, General Harris Street and Marbury Lane in Sleepy Lagoon, along with phases three and four of Longbeach Village. The Sleepy Lagoon construction estimate is now $5.4 million overall, Public Works Director Charlie Mopps said, and the final phases of Longbeach Village are roughly the same.
The town recently received word that grant money for matching funds was forthcoming for the two initial phases of Longbeach Village. Phase one work there is expected in the next year, as is work on Norton Street.
“In order to qualify for those grants, we have to have our own 25% in hand and dedicated,” Town Commissioner Sarah Karon said. “So, a lot of this is just timing of qualifying for grants we do not want to miss the opportunity to get, but in order to get them, it kind of plays out over time.”
Raising the level of roadways in flood-prone areas, which in many cases represent some of the lowest elevations on Longboat Key, is a cornerstone of the town’s resiliency efforts.
Though the hurricanes of 2024 brought the issue into renewed focus, the issue is far from new. Sleepy Lagoon residents for years have called for improvements in their neighborhood, as have residential groups around the island. In early 2022, the town launched a stormwater assessment of flood-prone neighborhoods, which ultimately recommended roadway raising as a critical step the town could take.
Town Manager Howard Tipton said town staff likely would reach out again to neighborhood groups.
Brownman said if in the interim money can be saved on a project and it can move forward sooner than originally budgeted, it will. “We just can’t promise it right now.” Design also is advancing on all of the envisioned projects that also include work on Gulfside Drive.
While stretched out longer than initially planned, work is moving forward, Tipton said.
“We’re not stopped, we’re continuing on where we can,” Tipton said. “We’re still going after the grants full bore.”
GARWOOD DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
File photo
Northern portions of Longboat Key are typically more prone to flooding. However, the town has other portions of the island that are also low lying, such as the Sleepy Lagoon and Buttonwood Harbour neighborhoods.
Isaac Brownman will serve as Longboat Key public works director.
Image courtesy of Sarasota County
issues to keep an eye on
Just because Longboat Key town commissioners aren’t scheduled to hold public meetings again until September, there are still key issues on the burner waiting for their return.
Here are five that will require some measure of attention not just upon the return of elected officials, but also past the point at which they approve a 2026 fiscal year budget.
1 A changing market
Though there probably isn’t a lot to worry about for this budget season anymore, fiscal uncertainty will likely continue at least over the short-term on Longboat Key into the 2026 calendar year.
The island has become accustomed to ever-rising property values on both sides of the town’s ManateeSarasota county split. This summer was no different — though with a luxury-resort-sized caveat.
Property values have consistently risen since 2021, and 2025’s did, too — buoyed by the St. Regis Resort Longboat Key’s addition to the tax rolls. Manatee County’s values backed down just under 10%. Sarasota’s rose 13.5%. Combined, it was a 5.96% increase — coincidentally, nearly the same increase of Sarasota County’s general increase.
So, as they have since 2023, town commissioners held the line on the general fund tax rate, ensuring about $1 million in new revenue to cover rising costs and to build back reserves.
Part of the concern, though, stems from a slower real estate market.
Understanding that Longboat Key is an island literally and figuratively, the broader market in the Sarasota-
Bradenton area is trending toward fewer sales that take longer to close and deliver lower prices as compared to 2024. For all properties in the region, the median price fell below $500,000 earlier this year and in May — the latest data available — stood at $475,000. That’s off nearly 10% year over year. Active inventory was up more than 26% and median time to sale rose nearly 8% to 96 days. Though a snapshot, May’s median price for all properties on Longboat Key was close to 2024’s May figure, up 2.4% to $1,042,000. The median sales price, as compared to asking price, was off by 1.3% indicating price reductions. Time on the market was flat to 2024. Months’ supply of inventory was up from 6.6 in May 2024 to more than 10 months now, indicating slower sales. Conversely, time on the market data shows identical 104-day averages as compared to 2024. No, real estate and tax values aren’t necessarily hard-wired together. But every time a home sells, the taxable value almost always resets upward because all exemptions and valueadjustment caps assured by Florida’s
Save our Homes regulations are discarded.
Fewer home sales, fewer resets to higher values.
Commissioner Steve Branham, a real estate agent away from Town Hall, said of recent trends: “Typically, we’re seeing about 90% of the listings that have come on the market in the last six months have had price reductions. And we’re flush with properties. So I agree; I think things are going to be flat for a while. Tough to tell how long that’s going to be.”
Budget prudence was evident in the form of two additional firefighter positions requested by Chief Paul Dezzi. They do not appear in the proposed budget, though they could be back in September.
Mayor Ken Schneier reminded commissioners new positions are long-term commitments with continuing costs.
“I am concerned about next year, because I’m not as optimistic that we’re going to see prices of real estate do much,” Commissioner BJ Bishop said. “I think we’re going to be flat for a while.”
Though Town Commission meetings are on hiatus, here’s a few topics that will continue to bubble.
ed for $15.5 million by Longboat Key Realtor Reid Murphy.
On Murphy’s website, he says: “Amazing opportunity for a new development, or alternatively a chance to easily bring the property back to its recent glory. The property has been approved to build two single-family homes or a six-unit luxury condominium.”
4 Traffic
The turn lane construction on the island’s south end, opposite Country Club Estates, should be complete by the end of the year.
2 A new round of elections
Three town commissioners’ terms will expire with elections in March 2026, but only two of them can opt to run.
Mayor Ken Schneier, first elected in 2018, will hit his term limits. Gary Coffin was elected for his first threeyear term in 2023 and can run again. Sarah Karon was first appointed to the District 5 seat in January 2024, taking over the seat left vacant after Debbie Murphy’s resignation. Karon is also eligible to run for reelection. Candidates have until late November to file. The Town Commission elects its mayor and vice mayor from within, following the seating of the commission following elections.
3 What’s up with Wicker?
The long-operating Wicker Inn closed earlier this year following storm damage in 2024. The two-acre property in the 5500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive is list-
Contract requirements stipulate a deadline of Oct. 31 to reach substantial completion and Dec. 30 to be complete. Town officials said in June the project was moving ahead of schedule. Possibly by months. Work started in February.
5 New chief
Longboat Key’s fourth chief of police in five years is scheduled to begin work in early August. Russ Mager comes to Longboat Key from Delray Beach.
Town officials and the town’s police union will begin negotiating terms of a new three-year contract for officers and sergeants that will expire at the end of September 2026. Contract negotiations with the city of Delray Beach and the union representing its officers reached an impasse earlier this year when city commissioners there did not reach an agreement on a new deal to replace one that expired in September 2024. Longboat Key in 2023 ratified police and fire contracts that at the time were termed by Tipton, the “single largest investment to date” in public safety.
The real estate market on Longboat Key continues to evolve, including in residential areas like the Village.
Former Delray Beach Police Chief, Russ Mager, is named the Longboat Key Chief of Police.
City of Delray Beach
Five diamonds for St. Regis, AAA says
As resort approaches first-year anniversary, Forbes rating is still pending.
ERIC GARWOOD
DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
Approaching the end of its first year of operation, the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort recently added a key rating, emblematic of its luxury bona fides.
AAA Travel recently awarded the property its five-diamond designation, one of 10 in Florida and two on the state’s west coast. Naples’ Ritz-Carlton Hotel has been on the AAA’s five-diamond list since 1987.
According the AAA’s most recent list for 2025, about 145 properties get similarly rated in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
AAA Travel’s ratings are generally based on a series of visits by unidentified guests, unannounced inspectors and a review by a panel of experts. Fewer than 1% of more than 23,000 properties reviewed by AAA achieve five diamonds.
“We are very excited to receive this prestigious award from AAA in our first year of operations,” said Winfred van Workum, general manager of The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort. “This is a testament to the quality of service that we take the utmost pride in offering our guests and a benchmark we will strive for each year.”
The resort features 168 rooms on the north end of the property, alongside 69 condominiums on the south side. Resort amenities occupy the center of the property.
Forbes Travel Guide is expected to weigh in on a rating soon. Its website
lists the rating as pending “soon to be rated.”
From Forbes’ “Notes from Inspectors” section, “Many of the bookable suites bear the names of people with local ties. There’s the 947-squarefoot Mable Ringling Suite, honoring the late art collector and wife of circus co-founder John Ringling. There’s also the John Jacob Astor Suite, a spectacular space named after the St. Regis’ founder that has its own dining table, a separate living room and unbelievable waterfront views. The Presidential Suite is the property’s largest, stretching more than 3,400 square feet. It draws inspiration from Sarasota pioneer Davie Lindsay Worcester, who had a deep love for its coastline and evervisible shells.”
Travel + Leisure called the resort one of the best new hotels of the year, and Conde Nast recently delivered a positive review without a numerical rating. Marriott, with which St. Regis is affiliated, offers a 4.4 of 5 rating and Trip Advisor’s reviews average at 4.5 stars.
During a week in August, the Ringling Suite averages about $2,700 a night and the Astor Suite about $4,900 a night.
“AAA is pleased to recognize St. Regis Longboat Key with the Five Diamond designation, meaning its unwavering attention to both service and surroundings have placed it into the upper echelon of AAA’s Diamond Program,” said Stacey Barber, AAA Travel vice president. “To maintain the exceptional standards required for this designation on a daily basis
is an outstanding achievement. Five Diamond hotels and restaurants consistently exceed expectations to provide their guests a highly personalized, memorable experience.”
PARKING ISSUES
Parking at the resort recently took on new importance as a nearby condominium community rejected a request from the resort to occupy some of its unused lot capacity. Seaplace residents opposed the idea. The resort has also spoken to town officials about potential uses of the Town Center Green lot at the corner of Bay Isles Road and Bay Isles Parkway.
The Town Commission in 2023 rejected a proposal from Unicorp National Developments to build a two-level parking deck over the existing surface lot in the northeast corner of the property. A proposal to add capacity with lifts in its garage was approved but not initially employed.
No formal applications or requests to expand on-site parking on the 17.3
acres has been received by the town, officials said this past week.
“Almost all opponents here praised the project, but protested the garage as too much, too close and too late,” Mayor Ken Schneier said in June 2023.
Later that year, Unicorp CEO Chuck Whittall said he agreed.
“This is a better solution moving forward than what we have proposed before,” he said.
Ultimately, what was approved was a plan that relied on an expanded footprint near the northeast corner of the property with tighter spacing suitable for valet drivers and a few more spaces on the property’s driveway.
All told, the St. Regis hotel side has a dozen driveway spaces, 93 spaces in the parking lot and 195 spaces inside the hotel building. Condo spaces will remain the same at 169. That’s 469 spots, 62 more than originally proposed.
“Five Diamond hotels and restaurants consistently exceed expectations to provide their guests a highly personalized, memorable experience.”
— Stacey Barber, AAA Travel vice president
Courtesy image
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort opened in August 2024.
Village resiliency funding moves ahead
Longbeach Village plan includes raising some roads.
Street, Lois Avenue and others. The plan includes elevating roads by up to 1.1 feet and installing a stormwater management system with inlets, pipes, separation boxes, and newer one-way valves.
The catch: a $700,000 matching requirement.
With Sarasota Bay directly to the north and east and the Gulf not much farther to the west, the Village has long been one of the town’s most flood-prone neighborhoods. In some cases, named storms are not even responsible.
Before a series of drainage installations in 2018, higher-than-normal celestial tides led to frequent flooding of low-lying streets as water levels rose through storm drains that emptied into the bay.
Special one-way drains were installed as a result, designed to allow stormwater out while keeping rising tides away.
“Performance monitoring over the past five years has shown that while the valves have successfully reduced tidal backflow in certain areas, flooding remains an ongoing issue in the Village,” the town wrote in a resiliency report.
Enter Hurricane Ian in 2022 and the first phase of the 2024 Longboat Key Village Stormwater and Flood Mitigation Project, for which funding was sought in August 2023.
The town earlier this year learned it had been awarded a $2.8 million federal grant from the state’s Division of Emergency Management to target 3,000 feet of the lowest road segments, including Broadway
Instead of simply writing a check, the town tapped Kalee Shaberts, its grants coordinator, to find grant money to help offset the original grant’s matching requirement.
“We’ve been really aggressive with grants lately,” she said. “It’s not common, but you can apply for a grant to help match another grant. That doesn’t typically happen.”
It did in this case.
Shaberts said recently the money now heading Longboat Key’s way ended up originally going back to the state from Manatee when that county wasn’t ready to accept it. The state then decided to make it available as a match-funding source.
Shaberts said the first installment will be around $230,000 for Phase 1 of the project, and the remainder will come when Phase 2 is ready to begin.
“They’re going to cover the full $700,000,” she said. “We just don’t have the paperwork because we have to go through the phases and do all the red tape from Phase 1.”
The town applied for the original grant about a month after Shaberts’ first day on the job.
Mayor Ken Schneier thanked Shaberts for the work she’s done thus far for the town.
“I’d like to congratulate you on that and hope it all continues,” he said during a June 27 Town Commission meeting.
Courtesy image
Chris Udermann captured pictures of flooding in the Village following a weather event in April 2024.
Housing plan falls short
The affordability crisis is not a market failure. Sarasota needs to remove barriers. Other cities have done so and are seeing meaningful results.
Recently, the Florida Housing Coalition, along with the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Barancik Foundation, Patterson Foundation and the Community Foundation of Sarasota released a Sarasota Housing Action Plan diagnosing the county’s housing crisis and recommending some approaches to fixing it.
The report provides valuable and much needed data and analysis, and we commend the partners for their foresight and commitment to producing it.
The Housing Action Plan rightly diagnoses the symptoms of housing stress — cost burdens, displacement pressure and a growing mismatch between income levels and housing costs. But it does so while clinging to an outdated paradigm of housing policy.
The report largely recommends that Sarasota continue a lot more of what it has been doing to address housing needs. Its recommendations get some things right and some things wrong, but mostly they hew to existing approaches that have helped, but cannot ultimately solve our housing problems.
Indeed, we are seeing other fast-growing metro areas around the country succeeding at solving housing problems by using different approaches.
DEFINING THE PROBLEM
As the accompanying graph shows, a useful way to envision Sarasota’s housing problem is to look at how few homes in the region are affordable for most of the region’s workers. The report notes that more than 47,000 low-income households in Sarasota pay more than 30% of income on housing and that nearly 25,500 pay more than 50%.
What the report does not point out is of the 71,000 newly built homes in Sarasota County from 2000 to 2024, only 2,300 (3%) were single-family attached units on smaller lots. These include small lot single-family, townhouses, duplexes or backyard cottages. If just 20% of that land used for detached homes (single-family, one home per lot) had instead hosted SFAs, Sarasota could have added 44,000 more moderately priced homes, many affordable to essential workers like nurses, teachers and first responders.
WHAT THEY GOT RIGHT
The Housing Action Plan does endorse many approaches that experience has shown would help improve the region’s housing situation. Notably:
■ Community Collaboration: Reducing permitting and fee burdens that slow down or raise costs of new housing, approaches that incentivize private capital to expand on public investments.
■ Zoning and Land Use Reform: Allow more density with small lot by-right zoning, more accessory dwelling units (granny flats), make it easier to repurpose unused commercial buildings to multipurpose projects and allow factory-built housing by right.
■ Ensure lands that are developed are prepared for storm resiliency.
■ Strategic Partnerships: Local governments work with employers, nonprofits and faith groups to expand their capacity to help with housing needs. These measures would help the region’s housing supply, but mostly at the margins. The second item is the key to really solving the problem, but it is not given enough emphasis in the report, which also does not point out how zoning reforms around the country have been successful.
“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944
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WHAT THEY GOT WRONG
The number one recommendation of the Housing Action Plan is to expand use of incentives and subsidies — from government construction and ownership of affordable housing; to subsidizing the building of affordable housing; to incentivizing the sale of some properties at affordable prices by allowing developers to build more and denser projects if they set aside some units to sell below market.
While this may sound good on the surface, this is the approach that Sarasota has taken for decades, as have many other parts of the country. But these approaches have failed to solve housing problems, and overall have made housing less affordable.
Indeed, housing provided through subsidies and incentives has proven to be slowly incremental at best compared to needs and drives up the cost of other housing. Every subsidy given to one requires that someone else must pay to cover the subsidy.
The report estimates a need for 15,000 affordable units in the region by 2035 — yet it fails to lay the groundwork meaningfully for a private-sector response that could meet this need, at scale, and without perennial public subsidy.
WHAT IS NEEDED
One of us has worked on housing policy for more than 50 years, another for more than 30 years, and the Florida Policy Project has spent the past two years focused on best practice research in housing affordability. Our focus has been on what works, what creates housing markets that are affordable, desirable and sustainable.
What Sarasota needs is to empower property owners, small builders and neighborhoods to build — legally, affordably and sustainably. What has worked around
the country to achieve this are approaches that include:
■ Zoning changes to allow small lot by-right building and light touch density.
By-right is when a project conforms to zoning and building codes and thus qualifies for construction with requiring a hearing process. Light-touch density refers to allowing duplexes, triplexes, townhomes and accessory dwelling units within existing single-family neighborhoods.
Such zoning changes are crucial. To its credit, the Housing Action Plan endorses this.
Sarasota County should legalize two- to eight-unit structures by right in existing lots in residential zones and set a minimum lot size of 1,400 square feet in new residential subdivisions.
These changes can yield thousands of affordable homes with prices under $400,000, compared to the $657,000 average for new detached homes.
These would be homes the county’s teacher, retail worker, restaurant and other typical service worker households can afford without subsidies.
Austin, Texas, has made aggressive use of these policies in recent years to allow more housing to be built, allow more density in parts of the city and allow a wider range of housing types. The result is that average rents dropped by 22%, about $400 a month.
■ Allow livable urban villages near Live Local commercial areas. Florida’s Live Local law already allows higher residential density in commercial areas. Sarasota County could be much more aggressive to implement light touch density in areas adjacent to Live Local areas. This would create walkable denser housing areas within a half-mile of amenity-rich Live Local commercial areas.
■ Keep the housing approval process short and simple (KISS principle). A “KISS” permitting model — simple height, lot coverage, and unit size rules — would enable small builders and property owners to act. Keeping permitting and other fees on new housing at reasonable levels and with quick processing time helps as well. The success of Anaheim’s Platinum Triangle, which added more than 4,500 homes on less than 1% of city land without price controls or subsidies, proves that ministerial approvals and density unlocks affordability.
■ Redirect state and federal affordable housing grants to housing vouchers.
Local governments simply cannot make housing supply happen in a way that comes close to keeping up with demand. But it can help lower income individuals and families afford housing by helping them make rent payments with housing vouchers.
If housing supply is permitted to keep up with demand, and developers are allowed to build enough lowcost housing units, vouchers can close the smaller gap that remains.
Altogether, the Housing Action Plan, while filled with data, sidesteps this fundamental truth: That housing scarcity is a policy choice.
The affordability crisis is not a market failure, but the result of shackling the market with zoning handcuffs and process bottlenecks.
Sarasota County does not need more subsidies. It needs a renaissance in abundant, naturally affordable housing driven by allowing more
and
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President
lower
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We’re all sea turtles ... rise to the occasion
Every year, under the light of the moon, sea turtles come out of the ocean and crawl onto Longboat Key beaches to lay their eggs. When this happens, we don’t throw loud parties. We stay quiet, turn off bright lights and watch the process with care and respect.
We tiptoe around their nests.
We remove obstacles.
We turn off the lights so their babies don’t get confused.
We post signs that say, “Please be kind — someone very small and important is trying to find their way.”
We create a whole support system around these vulnerable creatures.
Because they’re precious. Because they’re doing something hard. Because they’re doing their best.
What if we treated each other like sea turtles during nesting season?
Imagine if we looked at people the same way we look at sea turtles?
What if we consistently gave each other the same empathy, compassion, safety and support?
The truth is, there are many people in Longboat Key that already live this way. You’ll see them walking around with kind hearts, soft voices, and helping hands — the LBK community’s actions post Hurricanes Helen and Milton speak for themselves.
It might take a little effort to go the extra mile for someone, especially when you’re carrying your own load and facing the everyday struggles of life — but sometimes, that small act of kindness can mean the world to someone else. It does to a sea turtle.
CHRISTINE ROTHBERG
SEA HORSE BEACH RESORT
THURSDAY, JUNE 26
HOLMES BEACH? NAH.
9:04 a.m., 2900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Alarm: Officers responding to a home-intruder alarm found a pair of flooring contractors with a valid work order — for a home in Holmes Beach, not Longboat Key. The house number was the same, but the street was listed as Gulf Drive North. There was a language barrier, the officer reported. The home’s owner asked police to check the property for signs of any attempted break-in. There were none. The workers drove off toward Holmes Beach without incident.
NO ORDINARY TRAFFIC STOP
11:04 a.m., 1000 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
NOT A SILENT MOVIE, THEN?
10:13 p.m., 5600 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
SUNDAY, JUNE 29
MOVING ON
9:39 p.m., 3100 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Suspicious person: Police agreed to take a man whom they found trying to sleep on a bench to an address in Bradenton. Officers had been requested to make a patrol through the area and first found the man sitting on the bench, then in a prone position a few minutes
Traffic stop: The driver of an SUV originally stopped for speeding in a construction zone ended up with several criminal citations and infractions. An officer conducting speed checks on the south end of the island initially stopped the vehicle after it registered 50 mph in the 35 mph marked construction zone. The driver from Bradenton had an ID but no driver’s license (it had been suspended), no proof of ownership (he said he had purchased the vehicle just days ago) and no proof of insurance. An inventory of the vehicle turned up a bottle of diabetes medicine and a bottle of pills often used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and malaria. The driver said the medications (in bottles without his name) belonged to relatives. The SUV was towed and the driver cited for driving while license suspended with knowledge; operating an unregistered vehicle; unlawful speed in a work zone with workers present and no proof of insurance coverage.
FRIDAY, JUNE 27
NO ONE HERE
12:57 p.m., 4300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Suspicious incident: A resident called police after returning to her condo following a brief absence.
She reported finding her door ajar and what she thought were footprints in the doorway. The woman told police she had been asked to move her car away from an area that was being painted and became concerned an intruder had gained access to her home in the interim. Police canvassed the area and walked room to room in the condo and found no one. They could not ascertain the existence of footprints.
Noise complaint: An officer arrived on the scene of a noise complaint and initially did not report hearing any noise. He knocked on a door and spoke to a woman inside who said she had, in fact, been watching a movie with volume levels higher than normal. She told the officer she was finished with TV for the night.
SATURDAY, JUNE 28
SO THAT’S WHERE THE POLES
WENT
3:40 p.m., Sarasota Bay
Service call: Responding to a tip about a floating utility pole in Sarasota Bay posing a hazard to navigation, a marine patrol officer spotted a 35- to 40-foot long example in the waters off Joan Durante Park. The officer tied a line to the pole and towed it to the park’s shoreline, securing it to a park structure to keep from floating off.
DIAL S FOR SUSPICION
7:30 p.m., 300 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Suspicious incident: Insisting the delivery of three packages from an online retailer were more than just a mistake, a resident called police to report the incident as suspicious. The resident said the children’s wear and some kind of weights did not belong to her. The officer surmised they were likely misdelivered and could be returned to sender.
THE WORK OF FIREWORKS?
10:29 p.m., 3400 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Assist other agency: Fire-rescue units extinguished a fire that burned in a trash bin, igniting a palm tree and damaging a nearby rental car. The people responsible for the rental car sought a police report to help explain their predicament. An officer said he wasn’t an expert in fire investigations and couldn’t determine the cause, though one of the rental car’s drivers said fireworks had been seen and heard before the fire began.
SUNDAY, JUNE 29
PHONE FOOLISHNESS
7:54 a.m., 4700 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive Abandoned 911 call: Police went to a resort on a report of a dropped
call to emergency dispatchers. The officer first spoke to a desk manager, who said they were unable to reach the family in the room from which the call originated. One of the room guests said his wife was in the shower and one of their children had played with the phone’s keypad. The woman in the bathroom confirmed the story through the door. Nothing untoward was seen in the room indicating an emergency or a call for help.
MONDAY, JUNE 30
HAWK HELP
12:41 p.m., 3600 block of Bayou Circle
Animal problem: A coopers hawk that crashed into a window appeared stunned and unable to move when an officer arrived on the scene. The officer brought the bird, as requested, to Save our Seabirds on City Island.
THE RACCOON GOT AWAY
12:43 p.m., 1500 block of Harbor Sound Drive
Animal problem: The owner of a dog that had been bitten by a raccoon was advised by police to seek veterinary care for the canine. Police reported the raccoon was at large after the incident.
8:50 a.m., 900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive
Vehicle stop: A driver who was pulled over for driving nearly 20 mph faster than the speed limit produced a passport from south of the border when an officer asked for a driver’s license. The driver, clocked at 54 mph in a construction zone, said he had never possessed a license to drive. The 21-year-old said he was driving in an emergency and was on his way to work on an island construction job. He was issued two citations and told he’d need to make alternate transportation arrangements.
Asolo Rep’s ‘A Year With Frog and Toad’ explores the seasons of friendship.
WILD, WHIMSICAL, WOODLAND
MARTY
FUGATE CONTRIBUTOR
Scott Keys says some of his favorite characters are frogs and toads. “A Year With Frog and Toad” introduced him to those amiable amphibians; he’s directing the Asolo Repertory Theatre production of Robert and Willie Reale’s musical. This heartwarming, hilarious show follows the yearlong adventures of Frog and Toad. Adapted from Arnold Lobel’s beloved children’s classics, the musical odyssey is structured as a series of short vignettes. According to Keys, the theatrical journey is well worth taking.
As a director, you’re focusing your adult brain on “A Year with Frog and Toad.” Has that changed your take on Arnold Lobel’s original children’s stories?
No. Before directing this show, I didn’t have a take. I hadn’t actually read those stories as a child. I’d heard of “A Year With Frog and Toad,” but I assumed it was a musical adaptation of “Wind in the Willows.” But Peter Rothstein, Asolo Rep’s producing artistic director, is big on children’s theater. He reached out to me and asked if I’d like to direct a summer production, and I said “yes.” Once I did my research, I realized this musical has nothing to do with Kenneth Grahame’s classic. It’s an adaptation of a very American, very popular set of children’s books. After I read the source material, I fell in love.
How do you balance musical entertainment and faithful storytelling?
Well, Willie Reale’s script does that — it follows Lobel’s stories very closely. His books definitely do have a story arc — the friendship between Frog and Toad ties everything together. But it’s not a linear narrative. The original stories are self-contained and go from one vignette to the next. The musical echoes that — and it bounces from one novelty number to the next. I describe it as “wild, whimsical, woodland vaudeville.”
So, it’s kind of like “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” That movie was officially a story about the grail quest. But it was really sketch, sketch, scene, scene. Each bit stood on its own.
Yes, exactly. In “Frog and Toad,” it’s sketch, song, sketch, song. But the structure’s very similar.
Is directing at Asolo Rep a big step up for you?
It’s been an incredible step. It’s kind of a bucket-list moment for me. I’ve directed all over Florida and have known the Asolo folks for years, but I’ve never had the chance to direct there until now.
You’ve literally reached a new stage in your career. How does it feel?
Asolo Rep offers a much bigger theatrical sandbox to play in — more people, more resources and a very professional environment. You get your set and props on day one, and the support is amazing. It’s creatively energizing — and it feels great.
Does working with student actors impact your direction?
No. But “student actor” really gives the wrong impression. They’re all
process is collaborative and communicative — there’s a real “yes, and” energy. We’re having a blast.
Does that apply to your other creative collaborators?
Absolutely. They’ve all been a blast.
Carl Haan, our brilliant music director, has been a joy to work with. And Cat Brendisi, our choreographer, has become a dear friend. We’ll sit through rehearsals and talk about style. Or I’ll call her out of the blue with a brainstorm. Just the other day, I had an idea for “I’m Coming Out of My Shell,” Snail’s big vaudeville number. I said, “What if we do it as a striptease — but family friendly? Snail’s in gloves and a scarf for most of the year. He delivers this letter in winter and finally feels fulfilled — and comes out of his shell!” Cat loved the idea.
That’s how we work — lots of shar-
IF YOU GO ‘A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD’ July 16FSU Center for the Performing Arts, 5555 N. Tamiami $15-$19 AsoloRep.org.
Will Westray and Alex Hatcher star in Asolo Repertory Theatre’s “A Year With Frog and Toad.”
Images courtesy of Adrian Van Stee
How do the designers capture Lobel’s whimsical tone?
Set designer Natalie Eslami has been incredible. She loved the “Frog and Toad” books as a kid. (The original) illustrations were very simple. She references them, but we wanted to go more stylistic. For spring, she suggested vintage lampshades as flowers. She plays with scale — like big blades of grass and oversized props. Natalie also plays with duality. Downstage, it’s a slatted wood floor. Upstage, it becomes a grassland. Costume designer David Covach has also been very inventive. So, our birds are 1920s flappers with feather boas and headpieces. Snail is a little bumpkin with a big backpack roaming the forest. He dressed Frog in all greens — very dapper and debonair. Toad’s costume is in browns and oranges with polka dots.
Are the actors in amphibian makeup?
No, the characters are very anthropomorphized. We’re suggesting their animal natures through color and texture, not their costumes. They hop into place sometimes. But no makeup and no frog suits. How do design and performance evoke the passage of the seasons?
In autumn, leaves fall from the ceiling. Frog and Toad rake each other’s
leaves — then squirrels mess them up. As winter approaches, snowflakes fall. Frog and Toad hibernate in winter, wake up in spring. The whole year is a cycle of friendship. Just very playful little vignettes.
This show is part of Asolo Rep’s educational outreach. Does that influence your directorial choices?
Yes. Having been a teacher and director, I’m keenly aware of the educational dimension. We’re targeting a younger audience and hoping their parents or grandparents will come too. Asolo shows are typically more mature — “Frog and Toad” is specifically for young people. Our dramaturg, James Monaghan, is putting together some wonderful activities — like mazes, word searches and a gallery of famous amphibians. There’s even a “Write a letter to your best friend” prompt. It ties into the show’s throughline of Frog writing Toad a letter. Ideally, the students will write and mail an actual letter, not just an email.
Why is that important?
Because a letter in the mail is real human contact. That’s what “Frog and Toad” is all about. They’re friends together in the real world — they’re not communicating through
After a productive decade in New York City, Scott Keys moved to sunny Sarasota with his partner, David Covach (now head of costumes at Asolo Rep) in 1993. In the years that followed, he’s made his mark across the area’s performing arts scene. A big impact, in more than one field.
This multitalented man of many hats is an educator, actor and director. Keys has directed more than 150 local shows, including “Ruthless!” for Sarasota Players in 2023 and “Parade” for Manatee Players in 2024.
This tireless talent is also a published composer, lyricist and playwright. Keys lit up the stage with his original one-man shows at the 2023 and ’24 Squeaky Wheel Fringe festivals.
But his warm, witty adaptation of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” is Keys’ local claim to fame (a collaboration with composer E. Suzan Ott and others). Like the
screens. I was listening to an NPR talk about how in-person connection is vital to mental health — and I agree 100%. An actual physical letter you take the time to write creates that personal connection. Hitting a “like” or sending an emoji just isn’t the same. Live theater is another deeply human connection. Being in a room with other people, sharing an experience — kids need that. What’s your ideal audience takeaway?
At its heart, “Frog and Toad” is the story of an enduring friendship. It’s about two friends coming together. Despite their different temperaments, they’re deeply connected. And they’ve both left their comfort zones.
How so?
Because they’re amphibians! Frog and Toad are creatures of two worlds. They’ve both adapted to the land — but they both grew up in the water. Now they’re off on a
ever-returning Spirits of Christmas, it’s become a holiday tradition at Venice Theatre. Tradition, yes — but no relic. It’s not your grandma’s Dickens. Regional audiences know it — which is why the show’s a perennial sell-out. Along with his own creative output, Keys is equally devoted to empowering other talented people. He taught classes in theater and led Booker High School’s Visual and Performing Arts Theatre program from 2000 to 2021. His students applauded when he was named Sarasota County Teacher of the Year in 2008-09.
On the national level, Keys’ successful graduates include Charlie Barnett, Drew Foster and Syesha Mercado. He also mentored stellar local talents like Brian Finnerty, Sarasota Players’ artistic director. (Finnerty says he was “thrilled” when his former teacher played the narrator in Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” in April, which Finnerty directed.) Keys safely came out of those woods, but his theatrical journey is far from over. This summer, he’s directing “A Year With Frog and Toad” on the Asolo Rep stage. His creative fingerprints are all over this inventive, irreverent, energetic production.
new journey. They go from hibernation to hibernation across four seasons. Along the way, Frog pushes Toad to try new things. Toad is more timid. They have little spats, but also share big adventures. Together, they make each other better. That’s the essence of a realworld friendship.
Leave your assumptions about stand-up comedy at the door when David Scott, aka Mr. Showtime, takes the stage at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre. The host of his own nationally syndicated radio show, “Mr. Showtime” holds the Guinness World Record for Longest Stand-Up Comedy show by an individual, at 40 hours and 8 minutes. He’s got props such as a straitjacket, performs tricks such as mind reading and wraps his performance with a funny tour of four decades of music. Runs through July 13.
‘TOO DARN HOT: SONGS FOR A SUMMER NIGHT’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Court Cabaret, 1265 First St. $39 and up Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Songstress Carole J. Bufford easily skips eras and genres in this showcase of stories and songs featuring the months June, July, August and September. Whether she’s singing songs made famous by Janis Joplin or Randy Newman, she
DON’T MISS
‘DAMES AT SEA’
Fresh from his success with Florida Studio Theatre’s “Jersey Boys,” Ben Liebert directs and choreographs “Dames at Sea.” A parody of 1930s musicals, “Dames at Sea” first debuted Off-Off Broadway in 1966 starring Bernadette Peters. With the help of sailor/songwriter Dick, Utah chorus girl Ruby lands a role in a musical that’s trying to find its footing. FST’s Ruby is Emily Ann Brooks, making her FST debut. Runs through July 13.
IF YOU GO
When: 8 p.m. Thursday, July 10
Where: FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 First St.
Tickets: $42 and up
Info: Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
leaves the audience with something they never knew before. What’s more, her cool costumes evoke everything from flappers of the 1920s to the neo-swing era of the 1990s. Runs through Sept. 14.
‘HOW SWEET IT IS’
7:30 p.m. at FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, 1239 N. Palm Ave. $18-$42
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
As the mercury rises, locals know how to escape the heat — with Florida Studio Theatre’s Summer Cabaret. The series kicks off with a Motown tribute called “How Sweet It is.” Led by dynamic vocalist and songwriter Luke McMaster, an energetic trio demonstrates the endurance of hits like “Tracks of My Tears,” and “You Can’t Hurry Love.” Runs through Aug. 3.
‘DOROTHY’S DICTIONARY’
8 p.m. at Florida Studio’s Keating Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave. $42 and up
Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Alice M. Gatling stars as Dorothy, an older woman who introduces a troubled teen, played by Ethan Jack Haberfield, to the healing power of books. Directed by Kate Alexander, the tale explores memory, identity and how relationships can transform our lives. Runs through Aug. 10.
FRIDAY
CLASSIC MOVIES AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘FOUL PLAY’
7 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave.
$12
Visit SarasotaOpera.org.
Sarasota Opera presents “Foul Play,” Colin Higgins’ 1978 film about a librarian (Goldie Hawn) who finds herself in the middle of a plot to kill the pope. When a bumbling detective (Chevy Chase) is assigned to the case, romance blooms. Meanwhile, the assassin (Marc Lawrence) is determined to keep the lovebirds from foiling his plot.
Pack up the car with Grandpa and the kids and head for the Circus Arts Conservatory’s annual Summer Circus Spectacular at The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater, a jewelbox venue that elevates any show. This thrilling, 60-minute circus of fresh, new acts is perfect for people of all ages with short attention spans. Runs through Aug. 9.
IF YOU GO
When: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday, July 10
Where: The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater, 5401 Bay Shore Road
2 p.m. at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave. $30; students 25 and younger, $10 Visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s Stage of Discovery summer musical theater camp is celebrating its 10th anniversary with its most ambitious production to date. An original musical written by WBTT Education Director/Artistic Associate Jim Weaver, “Alice in Boogie Wonderland” features characters from Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s tale and disco favorites such as “Boogie Ooggie Oogie” and “Boogie Nights” as well as ballads such as “That’s What Friends Are For.” Repeats Sunday, July 13, at 2 p.m..
FST IMPROV: ‘FREEDOM! THE MUSICAL’
7:30 p.m. FST’s Bowne’s Lab, 1265 First St. $15-$18 Visit FloridaStudioTheatre.org.
Feeling patriotic but looking for a laugh? Florida Studio Theatre Improv explores “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Laughter” in this comedy musical with a promise
to share an untold story of the American Revolution.
SUNDAY
HARD HEART BURLESQUE
11:30 a.m. at The Mable, 2831 N. Tamiami Trail
$25 Visit EventBrite.com.
Grab your friends, your dollar bills and your appetite for glitter and breakfast. Join Swanky Valli, Karma Kandlewick and Marina Elaine as Burlesque Brunch returns to the Mable Bar and Grill. Step into Hard Heart Burlesque’s little cabaret, where the mimosas flow, the music sizzles and the performers … Well, they don’t just light up the stage — they set it on fire.
HD AT THE OPERA HOUSE: ‘L’ELISIR D’AMORE’ 1:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave. $20 Visit SarasotaOpera.org.
Sesto Quatrini makes his house debut in this Royal Opera performance of Donizetti’s opera about a country boy, Nemorino (Liparit Avetisyan), who seeks to win the affections of the high-falutin’ Adina (soprano Nadine Sierra). Can the “elixir of love” concocted by Doctor Dulcamara (Bryn Terfel) help Nemorino win his reluctant lover’s heart? You’ll have to find out for yourself.
MONDAY
RAUSCHENBERG: A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
The John and Mable Ringling Art Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road Free with $25 admission; Mondays free Visit Ringling.org.
The Ringling joins museums around the world in honoring the centenary of maverick artist Robert Rauschenberg, who burst onto the art scene in the mid-20th century with collages he called “combines.”
The first American to win the grand prize at the Venice Biennale, Rauschenberg set the stage for the Pop Art movement. The exhibition includes works that The Ringling has in its collection, including pieces Rauschenberg created during his time on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Runs through Aug. 3.
TUESDAY
‘LILIAN BLADES: THROUGH THE VEIL’
11 a.m.. at the Sarasota Art Museum campus of Ringling College, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Free for museum members; $20 Visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org.
Award-winning artist Lillian Blades invites visitors to get lost in her first solo museum exhibition at Sarasota Art Museum. Her installation of “veils” combine handcrafted and found objects to create a mesmerizing display. Blades attributes her use of dazzling color to her childhood in the Bahamas and her process of creating large-scale assemblages from a hodgepodge of materials to her late mother, an accomplished seamstress. Runs through Oct. 26.
Courtesy image
“America’s Got Talent” star Aidan Bryant performs on the aerial straps at the Summer Circus Spectacular, which runs through Aug. 9 at The
Sarasota Ballet
names Jess Abbott as its marketing director
The Sarasota Ballet has named Jess Abbott as its marketing director, filling a vacancy created with the death of Jeanne Leo in January after a long illness.
Abbott brings a strong background in arts leadership and a personal passion for dance to the Sarasota Ballet.
She previously was chief executive officer of Greenville Center for Creative Arts in South Carolina and executive director of Dogtown Dance Theatre in Richmond, Virginia.
Abbott’s background in creative marketing and her experience in building engagement between artists and audiences should prove valuable as the Sarasota Ballet continues to expand its reputation under the leadership of its director, Iain Webb, and his wife, Margaret Barbieri, the company’s assistant director.
“We’re delighted to have Jess join the Sarasota Ballet’s marketing team,” said Executive Director Joseph Volpe in a statement. “Her extensive experience in both the nonprofit sector and the dance world has consistently demonstrated her ability to elevate organizations with creativity, insight and strategic vision.
“Jess is a mover and shaker, and we look forward to seeing how her leadership will further strengthen and expand the reach of the Sarasota Ballet brand.”
As a former dancer, Abbott brings a unique understanding to her new job and can also leverage her leadership and development skills as she elevates the Sarasota Ballet’s marketing efforts.
“I am thrilled to join the Sarasota Ballet and contribute to its
remarkable legacy,” Abbott said in a statement. “Dance has always been a central part of my life, and returning to this world with such a respected company is a dream come true. I look forward to helping share the artistry and stories of the Sarasota Ballet with audiences new and old, and to being part of a team that values creativity, excellence and community.”
Choral organizations merge into new ensemble
Choral Artists of Sarasota and Via Nova Chorale are combining to create a single musical ensemble.
If the names don’t seem immediately familiar, both groups were founded under different monikers.
Choral Artists, which recently celebrated its 46th season, was known as Gloria Musicae in its early years. Via Nova was originally founded in 2008 as Musica Sacra Sarasota.
With the retirement of longtime Artistic Director Joseph Holt, Via Nova’s artistic director, Steven Phillips, assumes the same role at the combined choral group.
The move “ensures the continuation of Choral Artists’ legacy of artistic excellence, professional engagement and community-centered programming,” according to a statement announcing the merger of the two groups.
Bill Kimbell, board president of Choral Artists, said, “Via Nova is uniquely positioned to build on the foundation Joe Holt created: a deep commitment to musical integrity, thought-provoking repertoire and a belief that choral music can be a voice for the community.”
Via Nova Chorale will take over Choral Artists’ music lending library.
The ensemble will also continue Choral Artists’ tradition of engaging professional singers, a hallmark since its early years as Gloria Musicae.
Known for his innovative programming, Phillips will curate concerts that give voice to the community, often through works that explore pressing social issues.
“Steven brings both artistry and purpose to his work,” says Holt.
“I’ve admired the integrity of his programming and the clarity of his vision. He understands how to create music that resonates — with audiences and with the times. It’s reassuring to know that the next chapter of choral excellence continues in such capable hands.”
Performance dates for the 202526 season are expected to be finalized over the summer.
Courtesy image
Former dancer and nonprofit arts leader Jess Abbott has joined the Sarasota Ballet as marketing director.
YOUR NEIGHBORS
Taking wing
Longboat Key still holds Fourth of July butterfly release.
With the early morning sunshine warming their wings, an array of 150 orange monarch butterflies, green malachite butterflies, and ebony coontie butterflies took flight at Bicentennial Park this Fourth of July weekend.
The annual butterfly release at Longboat Key’s Freedom Fest is always a magical moment for attendees of all ages. But it held even more significance for a community that has worked hard to rebuild from last year’s hurricanes.
Holiday celebrants, unfortunately, couldn’t participate in the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce’s Freedom Fest on July 4 at Bicentennial Park this year. Residents did turn out that morning, hoping the rain would abate enough to let them enjoy the annual parade and festivities in the park. Town officials had to call off the event at the final hour when lightning and thunder persisted.
Longboat Key Garden Club members adapted to the weather challenges, holding their butterfly release on July 5 instead, with about 40 people in attendance.
President Melanie Dale said garden club members appreciated
having a moment to celebrate the work they’ve put into replanting the Butterfly Garden, along with the broader work volunteers have completed at the park.
“I see what we’ve done here, and I think it’s amazing,” she said.
Dale recently returned from a visit to Sanibel and Captiva Islands, which sustained extensive damage from Hurricane Ian in 2022. She said it opened her eyes to just how long it can take for a community to recover.
Crediting the dedication of club members, including former president and this year’s grand marshal Susan Phillips, Dale said she is grateful to everyone who has helped Longboat Key come as far as it has.
“A lot of people have put a lot of time into making sure we have recovered and look beautiful again, and I couldn’t be prouder of them,” Dale said.
Phillips added, “We aren’t finished yet.”
Now that Fourth of July has concluded, the garden club is turning its attention to other beautification projects across the Key, including updating the signs on either end of the island welcoming
“A
lot of people have put a lot of time into making sure we have recovered and look beautiful again, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
— Melanie Dale, garden club president
visitors to the town of Longboat Key.
Dale said they were also glad to pay tribute to the memory of Lisa Walsh, the late executive editor and co-owner of the Longboat Observer. She was also a co-founder of Freedom Fest.
Families in attendance said they appreciated still having a way to celebrate the holiday on Longboat Key.
Phillips and Dale noted anyone who wishes to support ongoing beautification projects can donate to the garden club and specify they wish to help fund park restorations. Visit LBKGardenClub.org for more information. Dale also
invites residents to join the garden club, which is a $30 membership for individuals or $40 for a family.
“We can always use sweat equity, too,” Dale laughed.
Though participants missed the parade, they shared their gratitude for salvaging part of the holiday fun. Phillips said she was glad families could show youngsters what it means to persevere.
Dale added, “The resilience of this community is amazing.”
OUTS
WASH
Other Fourth of July festivities adapted to the weather this year, either continuing indoors or turning to a virtual celebration.
With the parade cancellation, the Rotary Club of Longboat Key invited those who had already registered for the “Hot Diggity Dog!” canine costume contest to submit their photos for a virtual vote. Members planned to announce the winners early this week, hoping to give out prizes in person at Bayfront Dog Park soon.
Residents at Longboat Harbour Condominiums had a backyardstyle barbecue with the classic burgers and hot dogs fresh off the
Bird Key Yacht Club also held its competition for the highly coveted Potato Head races on July 4, along with other holiday fun (see page
— DANA KAMPA
Longboat Key Garden Club members celebrated their hard work restoring Bicentennial Park, especially the butterfly garden. From left, Jim Brown, Joyce Welch, Denise Schwemmer, Susan Phillips, Melanie Dale, Bobbie Goldwater, Phyllis Black, Kelly Shrout and Steve Branham.
Photos by Dana Kampa
The Grady family, including Jackson, Drake, Freya and Tina, join the Longboat Key Garden Club’s butterfly release for the Fourth of July weekend at Bicentennial Park.
Leah Sauers, 9, holds a butterfly in her hand until it is ready to fly.
HOT POTATO HOT ROD
Having a background in aviation doesn’t hurt when it comes to crafting a lightweight, streamlined racing vessel in one of the most highly anticipated games for the Fourth of July. David Hillmyer put that knowledge to good use to pull off his first win at Bird Key Yacht Club’s holiday potato races Friday.
Hillmyer is no stranger to receiving awards at the yacht club. He has taken first place in the spinnaker division of the Sarasota Bay Cup, but he said he may be even slightly more proud of this commendation.
“We’ve seen the debate over the years between the heavier cars and the lighter cars,” he said. “On a longer track, with more momentum to build, you want a heavier car. But on this track, the lightweight design paid off. Next year, I might even shave more off.”
The potato races are a fixture at the
— DANA KAMPA
Fourth of July festivities at Bird Key, which were largely planned to take place indoors. There were a few rules for the race. Contestants could only
Emma Bailey Gaddy and Vivienne Hansen carefully line up their potato race car.
Photos by Dana Kampa Harold Flynn and David Hillmyer face off in their bracket at Bird Key Yacht Club’s Fourth of July potato car races.
Circuit Judge Jay Plager, Judge Lynne Pettigrew, Irene Britt and Commodore Tony Britt spend the Fourth of July together at Bird Key Yacht Club.
Carlin Gillen
$12,900,000
$4,600,000
$995,000
Dana Kampa
Taylor and Sydney Nichols, co-founders of Le Shop, opening soon on St. Armands Circle, said they are excited to bring highend espresso and wine to shoppers.
EXPRESS ESPRESSO
Coffee and wine shop to open on St. Armands Circle.
DANA KAMPA STAFF WRITER
Founders of Le Shop said their new business won’t feel simply like a coffee shop that serves wine or a wine bar that happens to sling coffee. They aim to create a high-end shop that offers a little something special on St. Armands Circle.
espresso selection.
Taylor Nichols added, “We have a great cold brew we’ve narrowed it down to — a Columbian bean. It’s a dark roast that will work well because we’re making our cold brew fresh, not just turning over coffee we didn’t sell. The taste will be much more caramely and chocolatey.”
Looking to the future, they hope to craft their own custom bean blend.
3
Have
3
3
Le Shop is slated to open before the end of the year, and co-owners Sydney and Taylor Nichols are excited to start serving their clientele.
“We really want to be a local gem,” Sydney said. “We want people, whether local or visiting, to feel like this is an amazing element of such a beautiful community.”
Le Shop is located at 28B S. Boulevard of the Presidents, heading toward Lido Beach.
The Nichols have spent the past two years realizing their vision for a boutique on the Circle that features a handmade espresso machine crafted in Florence, Italy, and a selection of more than 100 wine varieties.
Sydney Nichols said the aesthetic will be akin to a chic Parisian apartment, with a color palette that incorporates pops of pink, navy blue and burgundy.
Out front, guests can grab a seat on the sunshine-facing banquette seating or sidle up to the marble-topped espresso bar for a hot or cold beverage.
Taylor said the store will offer more than espresso though, providing quality cold brew, drip coffee, matcha and other beverages. They are collaborating with South Carolina-based roaster Methodical Coffee.
“We have three different beans at our house right now that we’re testing,” Sydney Nichols said of their
He said their La Marzocco KB90 espresso machine with automated grinder should keep the cappuccinos flowing, both creating a consistent standard of excellence and freeing up baristas to meaningfully engage with patrons.
“We’re not just focused on being a cutting-edge coffee shop,” he said. “We want the coffee to be delicious and our shop to be welcoming and community-oriented, and this higher-end equipment allows us to do both.”
Beyond the coffee bar, customers can peruse wine racks for something to go or take a seat at a table to enjoy a glass and perhaps some charcuterie or other light bites. The location will also offer a selection of beers.
The Nichols envision a hidden gem for Longboat Key, Sarasota and beyond. They hope it will become a hub where customers can either stock up on provisions for a beachside picnic, converse over a cup of coffee or partake in offerings from a rotating cast of chefs and sommeliers.
“Not only will it save you a trip across the bridge,” Sydney Nichols said. “We’ll also have offerings you can’t find anywhere else here.”
Sydney Nichols said they will keep the public updated on the opening through their website at LeShopFL. com and social media.
Bird Key home tops week’s sales at $3 million
ADAM HUGHES RESEARCH EDITOR
George and Ronni Minnig, of Sarasota, sold their home at 279 Robin Drive to Mark and Kristin Sovie, of Sarasota, for $3 million. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a pool and 3,933 square feet of living area. It sold for $665,000 in 1993.
THE WATER CLUB AT LONGBOAT
Ashbury Foundation for Theological Education Inc. sold the Unit 708 condominium at 1241 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Anthony and Elizabeth Sajan, of Las Vegas, for $2,975,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, four baths and 2,965 square feet of living area. It sold for $1.05 million in 1999.
BUTTONWOOD COVE
Bayan Linetsky-Gilner, of Jefferson, Ohio, sold the Unit 303 condominium at 3540 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Mark and Lorna Raukar, of Sylvan Lake, Michigan, for $1 million. Built in 1980, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,568 square feet of living area. It sold for $1,225,000 in 2021.
Louise Herriger, trustee, Matthew Herriger and Melissa Ann Herriger, of Bradenton, sold the Unit 304 condominium at 3630 Gulf of
Mexico Drive to Anthony and Linda Anne Knight, of Longboat Key, for $661,000. Built in 1980, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,284 square feet of living area. It sold for $134,000 in 1986.
PROMENADE
Roger and Mariarosa Rockefeller, of Sarasota, sold their Unit 207 condominium at 1211 Gulf of Mexico Drive to Terence and Rebecca McComb, of Longboat Key, for $940,000. Built in 1985, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,827 square feet of living area. It sold for $660,000 in 2002.
SUTTON PLACE
Shari LeMonnier and David Stan-
TOP BUILDING PERMITS
27-July
iszeski, of New Buffalo, Michigan, sold their Unit 205 condominium at 600 Sutton Place to Lion Lair LLC for $680,000. Built in 1973, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,342 square feet of living area. It sold for $539,500 in 2021.
HARBOUR OAKS II Jacquelyn Tauber, of New Paltz, New York, sold her home at 2383 Harbour Oaks Drive to Petar Sibinkic, of Longboat Key, for $659,000. Built in 1876, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,222 square feet of living area. It sold for $350,300 in 2003.
LONGBEACH Scott and Karen Tonnesen sold their home at 681 Fox St. to Longboat Canal House LLC for $580,000. Built in 1964, it has
two bedrooms, one bath and 810 square feet of living area. It sold for $395,000 in 2005.
LONGBOAT HARBOUR Heath Dexter, of Lithia, sold the Unit 304 condominium at 4380 Exeter Drive to William and Christine Robertson, of Fishers, Indiana, for $470,000. Built in 1970, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 992 square feet of living area. It sold for $440,000 in 2021.
Built in 1992, the home sold for $665,000 in 1993.
YOUR CALENDAR
BEST BET SATURDAY, JULY 12
CATCH A TURTLE TALK
6:45 a.m. at the beach access at 4795 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The public can join free educational walks with Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium-trained volunteers every Saturday in July. Participants of all ages are welcome; an adult must accompany children. Walks may be up to a mileand-a-half in the sand and only canceled amid thunderstorms. Visit LBKTurtleWatch.com for turtle walk details and information about ongoing monitoring efforts.
TUESDAY,
5-7 p.m.
monthly potluck and donation drive. Call 941-383-6491 for details.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16
LEARN LIFE-SAVING MEASURES
10 a.m. at Longboat Key Fire Rescue Station 91 at 5490 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The department is offering free hands-on CPR and AED training this summer. Sessions are an hour, and though they are free and open to the public, they are limited to 16 attendees per class. The last scheduled summer date is Aug. 13. Register at LBoggs@LongboatKey. org or 941-316-1944.
RECURRING EVENTS
TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS LONGBOAT LIBRARY
10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 555 Bay Isles Road. Call 941-383-6493.
SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS YOGA
10-11 a.m. Sundays and 6-7 p.m. on Mondays at St. Armands Circle Park, 1 St. Armands Circle. This slow-flow yoga class is free to those 18 and older or accompanied by an adult.
Bring a mat or towel and water. Register at Paige@YogaWithPaige.us or visit YogaWithPaige.us to learn more.
TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS QIGONG
10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Learn all about this ancient healing art of movement and meditation. Fee is $20. Walk-ins welcome. Call 941-383-6493.
YOGA
11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Debby Debile of Feel Good Yoga & Massage leads a gentle yoga class that can be done on a mat or in a chair. Cost is $20. Call 941-3836493.
FRIDAYS UP YOUR TAI CHI SKILLS
10-11 a.m. at The Paradise Center, 546 Bay Isles Road. Certified instructor Reuben Fernandez leads a weekly intermediate tai chi class, held outdoors when weather permits. Fernandez also leads a beginner class at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays, but builds off those skills with a focus on Chen Style, Lao Ca Dija. It’s recommended to wear close-toed shoes with low heels rather than running shoes. Cost is $20. Call 941383-6493.
NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH
FORECAST
MOON PHASES
TIDES
UNDERGROWTH by Jim Heane, edited by Jared Goudsmit
By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands
Cassesse took this photo of a supermoon from Longboat Key over Sarasota Bay.
